Small-scale renewable energy grants worth some £25 million have now been claimed from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) – and millions of pounds are still available, it was revealed today.

The news came as Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks called for more homes and business to follow his lead by adopting a “go green” New Year's resolution.

The grants have been paid out to help homeowners, schools and businesses install technologies such as solar panels, biomass boilers and ground-source heat pumps.

Mr Wicks said: "It's vital that recent efforts by world governments to reach a deal on cutting global carbon emissions are matched by action by each and every one of us. Deciding to go green and generate your own clean energy is one of the most valuable New Year's resolutions you can make.”

He pointed out: "There are still grants available to householders who want to follow in the footsteps of the thousands across the UK who have been helped by the Government to fit microgeneration technology at their homes.”

The scheme still has £11m in grants available under Phase 1 for householders who want to generate renewable energy at home. Schools, charitable bodies and other public sector organisations can apply for a share of the £44m that remains from the original £50m set aside for them under Phase 2.

It has also been a year of progress for the wider renewable sector, with consent for eight major renewables projects, including the world's largest biomass plant in Port Talbot; the innovative Wave Hub project off the Cornish coast; the 66MW Fullabrook Down wind farm in Devon and a 450MW offshore wind farm at Walney in the Irish Sea.

In 2008 the momentum would be maintained with the introduction of legislation that will aim to 'band' the Renewables Obligation to bring on more support for less developed renewables technologies such as wave, tidal and offshore wind, Mr Wicks said.

Click here for further information on the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and to apply for grants.